The UK’s transport policy is in great danger of missing the bus

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Britain’s bus network has shrunk to its smallest size in more than 20 years, with local authority funding cuts largely to blameCredit:
David Lyons/Alarmy Stock Photo

In just a few months’ time, the first trains will rumble through Crossrail – London’s sparkling new east-west link. It will be a crowning moment for a fantastic £15bn civil engineering project and it’s a fair bet that our head of state will inaugurate the new Elizabeth Line.

Every politician loves a new train set and an “opening”, and there will be many speeches waxing lyrical about enhanced British infrastructure. Crossrail is great and I applaud the vision and investment – but let’s take a moment to put it into the context of a rather lopsided approach towards transport.

According to the Government’s official figures, the average individual gets on a train 21 times per year – so once or twice...